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[Random] Guessing Anime Expo’s Anisong World Matsuri

One of the things I randomly entertain myself with regularly is guessing the key guest for US conventions, particularly musical/anisong guests. Because of the distance from Japan as well as a number of other barriers (e.g. language, cultural, visa permits, lodging and escorting costs for guests etc.), the amount of guests that anime conventions in the west typically gets straight from Japan is typically limited, particularly musical artists. While the number and frequency of such guests have certainly been increasing over the last few years due to the rising fandom, it’s still nowhere near the levels seen in closer destinations to Japan, including Korea, Taiwan, and much of Southeast Asia. As I finish up a couple additional entries, I figured I may as well put this quick post together since Anime Expo announced on Twitter last week that they will be announcing the Anisong World Matsuri guest list by end of the month.

More info about the Neon District line-up will be posted NEXT WEEK~! Anisong World Matsuri info coming by the end of the month!

Last year’s Anisong World Matsuri Concert at Anime Expo featured Eir Aoi, Luna Haruna, Minami, Yoko Ishida, T.M. Revolution, sphere, and JAM PROJECT along with a separate “Japan Band Battle” with FLOW and OLDCODEX. The project was a hit and it looks like two similar concerts will be taking place on Day 0 (Pre-Show Night) and Day 1 of the convention. Back in October, Anime Expo also sent out a survey on what musical guests so this post will sum up not only which guests I think are likely to be invited as well as some additional guesses.

As shown above, the survey contained a wide variety of guests varying from anisong to generic J-pop and J-rock as well as musical composers. As the name Anisong World Matsuri implies, the focus is on anime and anisong and is sponsored by a few key companies in Japan, namely Lantis, Sony Music Japan, AMUSE, Bandai Namco, and Bandai Visual. As a result, below are some criteria for my predictions before I start bursting some people’s bubbles. There will be a few exceptions because of the artist’s circumstances but most will hold

Rules/Criteria/Guidelines:

All artists to date are associated with music labels Lantis and Sony so it’s probably reasonable to expect majority if not all artists to be with one of these two. This will limit artists from the other big names including NBC Universal, Universal Music, Avex, and King Records

The list will be based solely on participating in the Anisong World Matsuri concert. This will not consider if guests appear as part of Anime Expo proper (e.g. seiyuu guest/voice actor/actress) or other Anime Expo events (e.g. Teddyloid at Neon District)

Anime Expo has stated that they generally do not invite the same guests two years in a row (I presume it usually refers to overseas guests as opposed to domestic)

@dempagumi They actually came to AX 2016! and we generally don’t have guests come 2 years in a row ^^;;

The Short List:

Likely – Artists that I’m reasonably expect to be announced by Anime Expo

GARNiDELIA

Kalafina/Yuki Kajiura

UVERWORLD

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

Cover for EGOIST’s “KABANERI OF THE IRON FORTRESS” single

MAN WITH A MISSION

SPYAIR

Goose House

RADWIMPS

Possible – Artists where I wouldn’t be surprised if Anime Expo brings them but usually is hampered by some limitation (e.g. very big name artist, requires additional set up equipment, and/or too small of an anisong library)

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

EGOIST/supercell

Goose House

Hatsune Miku

JAM PROJECT

MAN WITH A MISSION

RADWIMPS

SPYAIR

Nana Mizuki

Aqours

Aimer

Anisong World Matsuri 2016 Artists

Walkure

Unlikely – Artists who could potentially attend but usually doesn’t fit one of the preset criteria listed above

Aimer

Aqours

Dempagumi, inc.

Do As Infinity

IA

IDOLM@STER

Luna Haruna

Megumi Hayashibara

Nagi Yanagi

Nana Mizuki

OLDCODEX

Orange Range

sphere

T.M. Revolution

Walkure

Yoko Ishida

Yoko Kanno

Yui Horie

LiSA

fripSide

nano

FLOW

Impossible – Artists who already have a scheduled conflict

FLOW

fripSide/Yoshino Nanjo

GRANRODEO

LiSA

Maaya Sakamoto

nano

SCANDAL

Non-Anisong – Reserved for those on the list who are not a typical anisong artist

AKB48

Arashi

BABYMETAL

Band-Maid

Daoko

Dir en Grey

GACKT

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Lotus Juice

Morning Musume

Nobuo Uematsu

ONE OK ROCK

Perfume

Ringo Sheena

Shoji Meguro

Teddyloid

The Gazette

The Pillows

Utada Hikaru

VAMPS

Yoshiki/X Japan

Azusa Tadokoro

ELISA

Mashiro Ayano

Minori Chihara

Sayaka Sasaki

Yousei Teikoku

Additional Guesses – Artists not included in Anime Expo’s survey but who I think may have a chance of being invited

Azusa Tadokoro (Lantis)

ELISA (Sony)

Mashiro Ayano (Sony)

Minori Chihara (Lantis)

Sayaka Sasaki (Lantis)

Yousei Teikoku (Lantis)

Did you favorite guest make my predictions? If you want explanations on any, please feel free to leave a note in the comments